Why Is This Important?

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and disability in Utah and in the U.S. Stroke disability and deaths can be reduced if stroke signs and symptoms are recognized and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system is activated as quickly as possible. Early recognition and rapid response are important because early treatment of stroke may decrease brain damage and subsequent disability. The stroke warning signs are:
*Sudden confusion or trouble speaking
*Sudden numbness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side
*Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
*Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance
*Sudden severe headache with no known cause
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The Utah Department of Health Health Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program (HDSPP) was consolidated into the Healthy Living through Environment, Policy and Improved Clinical Care (EPICC) program was formed in 2012. EPICC has worked with partners to improve public awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke and the importance of calling 911.

Chart

Hispanics had the lowest rate of stroke awareness of all ethnic groups. The EPICC Program has identified Hispanics as a priority population and has developed a culturally and linguistically appropriate Spanish-language campaign to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of stroke. Campaign materials and the Spanish language website can be located at [http://tucorazon.health.utah.gov/].

Data Table

Percentage of Adults Who Could Correctly Identify the Major Symptoms of Stroke and Would Call 911 by Ethnicity, Utah, 2007-2009

Data Notes

Notes

Data are age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population. For reliability, data represent combined years 2007-2009.

Health Indicator Definition

Definition

Percent of Utah adults who could identify 5 stroke warning signs and would call 911 if they thought someone was having a stroke.

Numerator

All survey respondents aged 18 and over who correctly identified all 5 signs and symptoms of stroke and reported that they would call 911 if they thought someone was having a stroke.

Denominator

All survey respondents aged 18 and over, except those whose answers were missing or refused.

Health Objectives and Targets

Healthy People Objective HDS-17.1:

Increase the proportion of adults who are aware of the early warning symptoms and signs of a stroke and the importance of accessing rapid emergency care by calling 911 or another emergency numberU.S. Target: 56.4 percent

Other Objectives

Heart attacks are an important cause of cardiovascular deaths in Utah. EPICC has worked to increase awareness of signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke and willingness to call 911.

Current Outlook

How Are We Doing?

Utah's rate of stroke awareness increased significantly from 33.4% in 2003 to 54.3% in 2011. Recognition of sudden confusion/trouble speaking, sudden trouble seeing, and sudden severe headache as signs of stroke improved between 2008 and 2009.
Stroke awareness is positively associated with education and income levels and marked disparities exist by gender, race, and ethnicity.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Utah's rate of stroke awareness is similar to that of the U.S.

Health Improvement

What Is Being Done?

The Healthy Living through Environment, Policy, and Improved Clinical Care Program (EPICC) was formed in 2013, consolidating three Utah Department of Health programs (Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, and the Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Program). The purpose of the consolidation was to ensure a productive, collaborative, and efficient program focused on health outcomes.
EPICC aims to reduce the incidence of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke by targeting risk factors including reducing obesity, increasing physical activity and nutritious food consumption, and improving diabetes and hypertension control. The program is organized around four domains:
*Domain 1: Epidemiology and Surveillance--gather, analyze, and disseminate data and information and conduct evaluation to inform, prioritize, deliver, and monitor programs and population health.
*Domain 2: Policy and Environment--environmental approaches the promote health and support and reinforce healthful behaviors (statewide in schools and childcare, worksites, and communities).
*Domain 3: Health Systems--Health system interventions to improve the effective delivery and use of clinical and other preventive services in order to prevent disease, detect diseases early, and reduce or eliminate risk factors and manage complications.
*Domain 4: Community Clinical Linkages--Strategies to improve community-clinical linkages ensuring that communities support and clinics refer patients to programs that improve management of chronic conditions.[[br]]
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The primary program strategies include:
*Increasing healthy nutrition and physical activity environments in K-12 schools
*Increasing healthy nutrition and physical activity environments in early care and education (childcare/preschool)
*Increasing healthy nutrition and physical activity environments in worksites
*Improving awareness of prediabetes and hypertension for Utahns
*Improving the quality of medical care for people with diabetes and hypertension
*Improving the linkages between health care providers and supporting community programs for Utahns with diabetes and hypertension
*Improving access and availability to community health programs for Utahns with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity
*Improving care and management of students with chronic conditions in Utah schools

Health Program Information

In 2012, the Utah Department of Health published a statistical report titled ''The Impact of Heart Disease and Stroke in Utah''. This report describes overall patterns in cardiovascular disease and risk factors at the state and national levels and among Utah sub-populations (age group, sex, race, ethnicity, and Utah Small Area).
To download the full report, please visit [http://www.choosehealth.utah.gov/documents/pdfs/reports/HD_Stroke_Burden_Report2012.pdf].

Utah DOH

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